Every month, we partner with a local nonprofit to collect donations through rounding up at the register. Our August Change Matters partner is Midwest Food Connection.
what does midwest food connection do?
Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, Midwest Food Connection (MFC) reaches students in their classrooms with fun, interactive food education programs. Working directly in elementary and middle school classrooms throughout the Twin Cities metro, MFC’s educators specialize in guiding students to explore and get excited about the food that grows right here in the Midwest. Their programs are designed to engage students to explore nutritious foods that might be unfamiliar, to plant their own veggies, and to teach about reducing food waste.
how did midwest food connection begin?
The seed for MFC was planted in 1993, when Wedge Co-op and Mississippi Market Co-op collaborated to start a community outreach effort to introduce kids to fresh, locally-grown foods. A few years later, a small but dedicated group of educators took that idea a step further and founded Midwest Food Connection to teach about fresh, nutritious foods in area schools. In the 30 years since, MFC’s programming has expanded to include storytelling, theatrical exercises, art making, and of course meal and snack preparation on the foundation of fresh, seasonal food. MFC educators work with students in kindergarten through eighth grade with tailored lessons that include a presentation, group or individual activities, and a tasting element. They craft dishes right in the classroom to engage students in food prep and processing, with the goal of inspiring and educating through delicious food.
what are examples of programs they offer in schools?
Their programs align with the seasons we experience in the Midwest, to facilitate real-time connections for students.
- September through November, they focus on the bounty of “Locally Grown” foods we can enjoy as school begins and peak growing season wraps up.
- November- January’s topic is “Smart Eating for You and the Planet”
- January- March is “A Time for Tasting”
Then for middle school aged students, they take food introductions deeper with “Developing Habits for a Healthy Life”- encouraging students to taking these learnings into their own lives and make each lesson work for them.
MFC brings these enriching yet practical lessons into dozens of schools throughout the Twin Cities, building connection between their lived experience and the seasonal foods around us.
“We create an engaging, sensory experience and give room for children to grow into a positive relationship with healthy foods. We emphasize that their taste buds are always developing, so it’s okay if they don’t like it yet. This growth mindset allows for the gradual development of good eating habits.”
what are ways to support midwest food connection?
- Follow them on social @MidwestFoodConnection
- Read their blog.
- Want to support their work? Donate here.
- Attend their 30th Anniversary Celebration on September 29th! Tickets and info here.